The Chemicals in Products (CiP) project is an ongoing activity on the policy and practical facets of access to information on the chemicals contained in everyday products. The activities focus on increasing the availability and access to the information actors need – throughout.

UNEP Chemicals Branch Builds Capacity

UNEP Chemicals Branch activities reflect global priorities identified by governments. It works directly with countries to build national capacity for the clean production, use and disposal of chemicals, and promotes and disseminates state-of-the-art information on chemical safety.

UNEP Chemicals Branch Catalyzes Action

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was developed by a multistakeholder and multi-sectoral Preparatory Committee and supports the achievement of the goal agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development of ensuring that, by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.

Mercury is toxic heavy metal that poisons the human nervous system and damages the environment. Cadmium is a non-essential element toxic for humans impacting the kidneys and skeleton. Childhood lead poisoning can have lifelong impacts, causing learning disabilities, anaemia, and coordination disorders. The Metals Team focuses on reducing and when possible eliminating use of these harmful chemicals in order to minimize their impact on vulnerable populations and the environment.

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The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world. SAICM has the overall objective of achieving sound management of chemicals throughout their life-cycle so that, by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment, as per the goal adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

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The Mainstreaming Team works to integrate sound chemicals management into the international development agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals. The Mainstreaming Team supports countries in integrating sound chemicals management into national policies through building capacity to coordinate across government departments and providing access to information.

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that remain in the environment, are transported over large distances, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to the environment and human health.

Since 1995, addressing POPs is in the core of UNEP’s work. Chemical branch supports Parties in the implementation of their obligations under the Stockholm and Basel Conventions, assists the MEA Secretariats with technical and scientific expertise and implements a programme of technology support and capacity building.

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The Global Environment Facility Team works with regional and country partners to develop, design and implement GEF-funded projects that reduce chemical impacts on human health and the environment. The GEF Team works with UNEP International Environment Technology Centre to develop and implement GEF-funded innovative waste management projects.

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The Special Programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level for implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), is the remarkable result of governments’ and other stakeholders’ efforts to find solutions to strengthen the institutional platform for the implementation of the sound management of chemicals and waste.

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The global economy is generating increasing amounts of hazardous waste in countries that lack the systems and resources for their proper management. This waste poses serious risks to people and the environment and has the potential to contaminate other non-hazardous waste and substances if it is not adequately controlled.